Napoleon and the Sonderbund

After the Thirty Years’ war (1618-1648), Switzerland formally acquired its independence. Nevertheless, the state of affairs within the country remained very tense, leading to peasant revolts on the one hand and on the other hand, to renewed religious conflict which led to the two wars of Villmergen. The Roman Catholics won the first round in 1656, thus maintaining their political supremacy. In 1712 however, the Reformists hit back and gained the upper hand. The 18th Century ended with the French invasion of 1798, with Napoleon establishing the "Helvetic Republic". This century witnessed the first patriotic demonstrations in Switzerland which attempted unite people together under the umbrella of "Swissness". Following the fall of Napoleon in 1815, there were two consecutive attempts at forming a Government – the Restoration of the Ancien Regime supported by the Conservatives (1815 – 1830), and the Regeneration, championed by the Progressives (1830-1848). The conflict between the (traditionally Catholic) Conservatives and the (traditionally Protestant) Progressives deepened. In 1844, the Catholic Cantons, which felt that Protestant interests still largely prevailed and were not in their favour, secretly formed the "Sonderbund" (special alliance) which was officially aimed at serving and promoting their rights. These events led to the "Sonderbund" war in 1847 (short-lived with few casualties) which ushered in the victory of the "Federals" and the dissolution of the "Sonderbund".